Governor Cuomo’s Prized Excelsior Scholarship: A Complete Flop

By Thomas Taylor, Contributor

Imagine the concept of free college. It seems ideal, right? Gaining a scholarship is a dream for various students as it would leave them loan debt free. The Excelsior Scholarship was designed to do just that. However, the results have been anything but successful.

In 2018, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke at Marist to discuss the details regarding the state budget. This new budget was designed to encourage progress in various areas of concern. Education was part of this “progressive” process. 

Speaking of education, Cuomo discussed the Excelsior Scholarship program which was created to give students the chance to go to a public SUNY or CUNY school tuition free. Most of the students who were given the scholarship come from low to middle income families, which was the primary goal behind the creation of the program. 

It may sound like a solid concept, but there are a few flaws that have been pointed out since. For instance, students are required to take 30 credits for the semester if they take the scholarship. Some students can only be part time as they may have other commitments such as work, taking care of family, etc. 

The Excelsior Scholarship also requires students to graduate in four years as well as expecting them to pay for books as well as housing which would require them to take out a loan. Students would also have to take out a loan if they planned on staying a fifth year.

In reference to a report from the Center for an Urban Future, “Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders should make critical reforms to the Excelsior Scholarship program to ensure that more students who need financial assistance to attend college and earn a credential are able to qualify for this well-intended but flawed program.”

From that same report, a study found out only 3.2% of the states 600,000 undergraduates received the scholarship and a little more than two-thirds of overall applications were rejected. 

In addition, an article from the NY Daily News found that some of the scholarship benefits were being given to more wealthy, privileged families when it was designed to go to an economically disadvantaged individual. 

Cuomo’s Democratic opponent, Cynthia Nixon spoke up about the issues facing the scholarship as she believes it was more of a publicity attempt.

Her spokeswoman Lauren Hitt states, “This is consistent with what we’ve long said. The Governor’s free college program was all for the headlines and not for students and families.”

Excelsior Scholarship recipients are also required to stay in state and work after graduation. Cuomo’s justification for this rule was found in an interview conducted by the New York Post about the issue.

“Why should New Yorkers pay for your college education and then you pick up and move to California?” Cuomo states. 

Since the program’s introduction in 2017, there have been various issues and controversies surrounding the scholarship. 

In the future, the people of the state of New York hope to see a different side of this program in which students can actually be afforded the chance to go to college without several strings being attached.